Shipping container for oil samples and the like



SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR OIL SAMPLES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 29, 1958 J.5. BLACK June 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGZ.

FIG]. 29 3 40 2'7 O 4 E H 1 J m :1- wmm m m M O 2 I 4 w z 444% June 21,1960 J. 5 BLACK 2,941,689

SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR OIL SAMPLES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 29, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 2 llcontainer.

Unite 2,941,689 SHIPPING CONTAlNER FOR 01L SAMPLES AND THE LIKE James S.Black, Makati, Risa], Republic of the Philippines, assignor toStandard-Vacuum Oil Company,

White Plains, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 29, 1958, Ser.No. 770,503

7 Claims. (Cl. 220-43) and a neckportion. of smaller diameter with acork closureelement. Aside from the fact that the glass is easilybroken, there is nofacility in that type of sample bottle for datasheets pr other information or intelligence to'accompany the liquidcontents of the bottle, except the possibility of labels or sheetsattached to the outside of the bottles. V

This invention provides a container "which is made of moldedunbreakableplastic material and is useable over and over again and lendsitself admirably for storage or transport of liquid contents such aslubricating oil samples. And in addition to providing a main bodyportion for containing the liquid sample, a second chamber within a cupclosure element provides a space sealed off from the liquid contents, inwhich a data sheet relating to the contents may accompany the sample.Hence the liquid sample is prevented from soiling the data sheet and theliquid is protected against contamination.

The cup closure element fits snugly into a restricted neck portionextending upwardly from the main body portion of the container and acapping closure fits over the neck to enclose the data sheet within thecup closure element so that when the cap closure is in place thecombined container parts present an overall cylindrically shaped.container without offsets on the exterior surface of the Hence, theclosed container lends itself to .be conveniently enclosed within acooperating heavy paper wrapping enclosure which when folded into placeprovides a; sturdily packaged unbreakable shipping container which issuitable for transporting the container,

, data sheet and liquid contents as a unit from place to place by mailor by other modes of UHIISPOITEIUQII w1thfout the necessity of packingthe container bottle in extra protective packing material.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthe invention are pointed out in the annexed claims, the inventionitself, as to its objects and advantages and the manner in which it maybe carried out, may be better understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forminga part hereof, in which Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the assembledconf'tainer, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the container shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing, in elevation, ;the three separateparts of the container prior to assembly, each being shown partly insection;

States Patent 0 Fig. 4 is a plan view of the inside of the wrapping andshipping enclosure, showing the container in position prior to enclosingit to provide a unitary shipping container;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the shipping container with theoutside enclosure closed; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the unitary shipping container closed readyfor shipping.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference charactersindicate similar parts throughout the several views, the containerdesignated generally by reference numeral 10 comprises a main body 11,cup closure. element 12 and a cover cap 13 each of which is molded of aplastic material suchas polyethylene, or other similar or suitablemoldable plastic material. The walls of the body portion and cup portionare made ofa material which is somewhat flexible, yet sufliciently rigidto hold their shapes when the main body is charged with liquid such as asample of lubricating oil. The cover cap 13 is preferably made of aplastic which is somewhat more rigid than the plastic making up thebodyportion 11 or at' least made of thicker walls to provide desirablerigidity. In some instances it may be desirable to provide an innerreplaceable liner 23 which is preferably made of a different materialfrom that used for the main body 11; for example, vinyl, Saran, nylon,or whatever is suitable for the contents to be carried in. the bottle.In this case it is desirable to make the cup closure element 12-of thesame type of plastic as the liner 23.1 t

The main body 11, as shown, comprises a main cylindrically shaped sidewall portion 14, an inwardly dished bottomwall 15, an inwardly extendinghorizontally 'disposed annular shoulder 16 and an upwardly extendingcylindrically shaped neck portion 17, the wall of which has externaloutwardly projectingscrew threads 18. The threads 18 at their upper endterminate. short of the top edge 19 of the neck, there being an upwardlyextending tubular neck portion 20 between the small annular shoulder 21at the upper end of the threads and upper annular edge 19 of the neck.For convenience of description this portion 20 is herein referred to asa hollow cylindrical boss so that it may be said the threaded neckportion 17 terminates at its upper end in a hollow cylindrical boss. Thethreads 18 at their lower end terminate at a narrow annular shoulder.22. The

wall of the hollow boss 20 is generally cylindrical but this wall in anupward direction tapers inwardly slightly for reasons mentioned later.

The cup closure element 12 comprises a generally cylindrically shapedside wall 25 and a bottom wall 26 forming a cup or chamber 27 having anopen upper end 28. The upper circular end of the cup element 12 hasextending outwardly and horizontally an annular flat rim portion 29 fromwhich extends a downwardly extending annular apron portion 30. It willbe noted thatthe side wall 25 tapers outwardly slightly in an upwarddirection at its upper end portion 31 and the downwardly extending apronring 30 lies substantially parallel with the portion 31 and is spacedapart therefrom to provide an annular channel 32 which has a width whichcorresponds with the thickness of the cylindrical tapered wall of thehollow boss 20. That is, the thickness of the wall of hollow boss 20' issuch'that it will slide with a snugfit into channel 32. Now it may beobserved that when the cup element 12 having a diameter to fit into theneck, is inserted into the mouth 33 of the bottle, provided by thehollow boss 20, the diameter of the'portion 31 of the cup is such thatit will exert a force radially outward against the boss portion 20 whenthe cup closure element is pressed home which is the position shown inFig. 1. When the cup closure 12 is thus in its closed position the wall31 of the cup presses outwardly against the interior surface of hollowboss 20 and the annular wall 20 fits snugly into the channel 32.Inasmuch as there; is a. pressure exerted in a radially outward:direction, the outer surface of portion 31 bears against the innersurface offboss portion 20, which in turn" causes the outer surface ofthe circular wall of boss 20 to bear against the interior surface of thedepending circular apron'30. Hence, when the cup element 12 is insertedin the mouth '33: and pushed into its seatediposition (as shown inFig. 1) the cup closure element closes the mouth of the bottle with adouble seal int-he channel 32 which will be effective in closing thechamber 34 of the main body ofthe container and will eifectively sealthe interior of chamber 34 from the cup chamber 27. A folded sheet(represented by dotted lines 35) containing data concerning a samplecarried in chamber 34 or containing other information or intelligencemaybe conveniently" placed in the data chamber 27, to accompany thesample.

The closure 13 comprises an inverted cup-shaped cap having a top wall 40from which depends a generally cylindrically shaped side wall 41 havingvertical flutings 4 Extending from the crease line 71 of the body..panel 51 is a tuck flap 72 to which the glue flap is fastened when thecontainer is rolled-up in the enclosure wrapper, it being noted that thelength 1 of the panel 51 plus the length 1 of the glue flap 52 is equalto the length of the periphery around the cylindricalcontainer and thewidth' W of the flaps, 63 and. 6.5 is slightly less than the diameter ofthe container.

To enclose the container 10 in the shipping wrapper 50 7 it is placed onthe wrapper as shown'in Fig. 4. It is then rolled-up in the wrapper andthe glue 55 is moistened and the glue flap sealed to the tuck flap 72..The triangular panels 73 and 74 are tucked in andv panel 7 0 thenfolded over these panels to expose the metal clasp 60, the top tab 56 isthen folded down on the flap 7!) with the wings of the metal clasp 60extending through the aperture 58 and the metal wings are then spread tolock the top end closure as shown in Fig. 6. .A similar operation closesthe bottom end closureto produce the unitaryshipping ping wrapper 50stowed in sample chamber 34 and data cap, thus providing an annularapron'portion. 4.4- which 'fitsover'the upstanding neck'portion- 17aofthe container when the: cap .13. is screwed home on the neekzthreads -18as :shown in Fig; 1. .The. upper end. portion 45 of the. cylindricalwall of the cap above the threads 42 is of slightly reduced diameterand. registers with and fits over and' grips the. exterior surface of.the apron 30 which surrounds the upstanding hollow boss 20 of the neckof the container. Theinterior of the top wall is provided I .with aperipheral channel or groove 46 into which the rim '29 of cup 12 fitswhen the cap13 is screwed home on the neck 17 of the main body of thecontainer (as shown in Fig. 1). Hence, the cap grips the rim and apronportion of the cup closure element to insure an even tighter seal toprevent leakage of liquid contents, from the cham- 'ber'34 and toprotect the data sheet within the cup chamber 27, while. the. dependingdisc portion 47 fits into the open end 28. of the cup. closure element.A series of slots 48 molded into the lower edge-portion of. the cap PIo-'vides for additional flexibility to the. annular apron portion 44 ofthe cap.

The wrapping enclosure designated generally by reference. numeral 50comprises a flat blank made preferably of heavy kraft paper to provideample,v strength .and cushioning when the container 10 is enclosed andsealed in the shipping closure. It. comprises a main body panel. 51

having a, height h; corresponding to the height of the as- :sembledcontainer 10. Extending frompanel. 51 1s a glue fl'apSZ which isprovided by folding a flap 53 over on .itself along crease. 5.4 andgluing it to provide the reinforced glue flap 52 which is provided onits lnner surface with adhesive 55 coextensive with the height of panel51., At. the ends of the glue flap 52 is a top closure tab .56 andbottom closure tab 57 each provided with an aperture 5.8 and 59 toreceive the wings of metal clasps 60 and. 61, later described. Y

Extendingfrom crease line 62 of panel 5.1 is a top closure flap 63 and.extending from crease line 64 of panel 51. is a bottom closure flap 65..These top and bottom closure flaps have the shape of a trapezoid and arescored metal clasp having wings which may extend through apertures 58and. 59 and then spread to lock the closure. flap 56 and 57 to thepanels 70, 70a.

.sheet stowed in data chamber 27. Then when the initi l :receiver wishesto ship the container .(for example, to

send a sample of lubricating oil to a laboratory), he removes the sheet35" and wrapper 50, placesthe sample in the container, places such dataas desired. on sheet35, places it in the cup 25, close the containerwith, cap 13, and encloses the. closed container inthe shipping wrapper50 for transport to the desired place.

' The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used asterms of description and notof limitation, and there is no intention, inthe use of such terms and'expressions, of'excluding any equivalents ofthe features shown and described or portions thereof, but it isrecognized that various modifications are possible within the scope ofthe invention claimed.

What is claimed is: i

1. A molded plastic container for liquid contentssuch as samples oflubricating .oil or the like whichcornprises a main body portionproviding a main chamber for stowing liquid contents, av hollow neckportion of generally cylindrical shape extending upwardly from said mainbody portion providing a hollow boss having a cylindrical wall, acup-shaped, closure element extending into said hollow neck portionproviding a data chamber in which to stow a data sheet, said cupeshapedclosure at its upper end having a horizontally disposed annular rim.portion and a cylindrical apron portion extending downwardly. from theouter. peripheral edge of said annular rim portion providing an annularchannel into which said cylindrical'wall of said hollow boss .extendsand snugly fits, thereby sealing the data chamber from said mainchamber, and a closure cap removably secured on said neck closing saiddata chamber and securely holding said cup closure element in closedposition to prevent leakage, ofcontents from said main chamber.

2. A molded plastic container forliquid contents such as .a. sample oflubricating oil or the like which comprises a main body portion having agenerally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall providing a mainchamber in which to stow said. contents, a hollow cyl-indri'cally'shapedneck of a diameter less than the diameter of said body extendingupwardly from said body portion and having male threads on its exteriorsurface, a cup-shaped closure element having a circular wall, open atits upper end, inserted in said hollow neck and providing a chamber inwhich to stow data, a rim and apron portion at the top end of saidcircular wall providing an annular channel into which the upper endofneck extends and snugly fits, the upper end portion of said circularwall of said cup element being outwardly tapered so that it exerts anoutward radial pressure upon the interior surface of said hollow neckthereby sealing said main chamber to prevent leakage of contentstherefrom, an inverted cuplhaped cap having a cylindrical side wall andtop wall and female threads on the interior surface of said side wall,Quid cap being screwed onto said neck to close said open end of said cupclosure element and to hold said cup closure element in sealedpositionin said neck.

3. A molded plastic container constructed according to claim 2 andhaving a replaceable interliner, lining said main chamber.

4. A molded plastic container for liquid contents such as a sample oflubricating oil or the like which comprises a main body portion having agenerally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall providing a mainchamber in which to stow said contents, a hollow cylindrically shapedneck of a diameter less than the diameter of said body extendingupwardly from said body portion and having male threads on its exteriorsurface, said neck having a hollow boss at its upper end, said bosshaving an inwardly tapered cylindrical wall forming a mouth, acup-shaped closure element having a generally cylindrically shaped sidewall open at its upper end inserted into said mouth through said hollowboss and providing a chamber in which to stow data, the upper end of thecylindrical wall of said cup element being outwardly tapered so that itexerts an outward radial pressure upon the interior surface of saidhollow boss, a horizontally disposed fiat rim at the upper end of saidcup and a downwardly disposed apron connected to said flat rim formingan annular channel around the cylindrical wall of said cup element intowhich the cylindrical wall of said hollow boss extends, said hollow bossexerting a pressure outwardly against said apron thereby sealing saidmain chamber to prevent leakage of contents therefrom, an invertedcup-shaped cap having a cylindrical side wall and top wall and femalethreads on the interior surface of said side wall, said cap beingscrewed onto said neck to close said open end of said cup closure and togrip said apron and to hold said cup closure in sealed position in saidneck.

5. A molded plastic container constructed according to claim 4 andhaving a replaceable plastic liner lining the walls of said mainchamber.

6. A shipping package for shipping liquid contents such as samples oflubricating oil or the like which comprises l) a bottle having a mainbody portion providing a main chamber for stowing liquid contents, ahollow neck portion extending upwardly from said main body portion, acup-shaped closure element extending into said hollow neck portionproviding a data chamber sealed from said main chamber in which to stowa data sheet and a closure cap removably secured on said neck closingsaid data chamber and securely holding said cup closure element inclosed position to prevent leakage of contents from said main chamber,the exterior of said bottle being generally cylindrical in shape andfree from offsets, and (2) a wrapper of heavy sheet material enclosingsaid bottle, said wrapper comprising a main panel encircling thecylindrical side wall of said bottle and a reinforced glue fiap securedto said main panel, top and bottom closure flaps folded over the top andbottom of said bottle, top and bottom closure tabs secured to said glueflap and folded over said top and bottom flaps, and metal claspsextending through said tabs and holding said flaps in folded position.

7. A container constructed according to claim 2 enclosed in a Wrapper ofheavy sheet material which comprises a main panel encircling thecylindrical Wall of said container, a tuck flap extending from said mainpanel, a glue flap adhesively secured to said tuck flap, a top flapsecured to said main panel and folded to cover the top of said containerand a bottom flap secured to said main panel and folded to cover thebottom of said container, a metal clasp secured to each of said flaps, atop tab extending from said glue flap and folded onto said [top flap andlocked in place by one of said clasps, a bottom tab extending from saidglue flap, folded onto said bottom flap and locked in place by the otherof said clasps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,317,882 Boesel Apr. 27, 1943 2,357,147 Taylor Aug. 29, 1944 2,721,552Nosik Oct. 25, 1955 2,753,081 Hobson July 3, 1956

